Vinny DeMarco, president of Maryalnders to revent Gun Violence reacts to the decision today. Download This File

WBAL's Robert Lang reports the judge questioned the timing of this lawsuit. Download This File

A federal judge has rejected a request from a group of gun owners, retailers and gun ownersÆ rights groups to halt enforcement of Maryland's gun control law, while a pair of lawsuits is heard in U.S. District Court.

U.S. District Court Judge Catherine Blake said the plaintiffsÆ arguments do not justify "the extraordinary relief" of a temporary restraining order; which would have prevented the Maryland State Police from enforcing the law.

She noted that the plaintiffs could have filed their lawsuits after Governor Martin O'Malley signed the legislation in May, but instead they filed it on Friday, two business days before the law took effect.

Judge Blake noted that delay made it appear, the potential nfringement on the plaintiffs night was not as severe as they argued.

The decision does allow the lawsuits to continue. Judge Blake asked attorneys for both sides to decide whether to hold arguments on a preliminary injunction to block the law, or to argue the lawsuits on their merits.

Officials with the National Rifle Association, which is advising the plaintiffs, but is not a party to the lawsuit, say they knew getting the restraining order would be difficult, adding they are ready to present their case on its merits.

"This is not a ruling on the merits of the arguments. The fat lady hasn't sung. She hasn't taken the stage yet," said Shannon Alford, Maryland liaison for the NRA.

The plaintiffs all left the federal courthouse refusing to comment on the ruling, referring all questions to their attorneys, who also declined to comment outside the courthouse.

In the first lawsuit, plaintiff attorney Skye Woddard argued that the weapons ban and magazine limits, would prevent the plaintiffs "from choosing firearms needed to protect themselves."

Woodard argued that 45 types of semi-assault rifles that are banned in the new law, are most often used by home and business owners for self-protection.

She also argued that the law's limits of gun magazines to just 10 rounds, makes existing guns "useless," since manufacturers do not sell 10 round clips.

She said the injunction would allow the plaintiffs to continue to buy ammunition for protection, because they "risk injury or even death" if they couldn't use their weapons in self-defense.

In the second lawsuit, filed on behalf of an unnamed gun owner, the plaintiffs asked the judge for permission to halt the handgun licensing requirement for 90 days. It requires handgun buyers to submit fingerprints to the Maryland State Police.

Attorney John Sweeney argued, the new law means no one could buy a handgun, noting that the state has a considerable backlog of gun applications under the old law, and there is no guarantee they would act on the applications under the new law.